Over 880,000 Individuals Displaced in Syria: United Nations Report
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United Nations, Dec 17 (NationPress) More than 880,000 individuals have been forced from their homes following the most recent surge of violence in Syria, according to UN humanitarian officials.
Partners of the UN estimate that approximately 6 percent of those displaced are living with at least one form of disability, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
"Return movements are fluid, with partners documenting over 220,000 returnees on Sunday," stated the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "Furthermore, more than 40,000 displaced individuals are residing in around 250 collective centers throughout northeast Syria."
The office indicated that the United Nations and its partners persist in aiding the response by providing food, water, cash, tents, and blankets. The organization is also deploying medical teams and supplies.
The Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross, in collaboration with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), performed a joint mission at the Tishreen Dam facility in the Aleppo governorate of Syria on Friday for urgent repairs.
UNICEF has also secured fuel for the backup generator, allowing for the safe drainage of the dam and the protection of water supplies. Recent hostilities near the dam resulted in a prolonged power outage, disrupting water and essential services that impact millions in the vicinity.
On Monday, Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, met with Syrian transitional authorities in Damascus to address the relief operations. "During a period of such rapid changes and enduring needs in the region, Fletcher's journey will also include visits to Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan," OCHA mentioned regarding his one-week Middle East tour.
Authorities have also reported a complex movement of displaced individuals across the Lebanon-Syria border.
OCHA noted that since December 8, Lebanese authorities have recorded fewer than 10,000 Syrian refugees returning from Lebanon to Syria.
In contrast, the UN Refugee Agency reported that Lebanese authorities estimated around 30,000 displaced individuals returned from Syria to Lebanon, primarily consisting of Syrians but also including some Lebanese nationals, since the cessation of hostilities announcement for Lebanon on November 27.
The International Organisation for Migration indicated a dynamic situation with ongoing movements through both formal and informal border crossings. Earlier reports from humanitarians indicated that Syrian border officials had left their posts following the takeover in Damascus.
